ATHENS, GA – Cameron Johnson has a flexible carefree approach to both his passions.

As a basketball and football player, Johnson understands he needs to make adjustments on the fly considering the positions he plays. Whether on the hardwood or football field, Johnson is always looking to give his teammates a helping hand. So, making the transition from both sports comes natural.

“Being a quarterback takes a lot of knowledge and knowing where people are going to be,” he said. “On the basketball court it takes athleticism but the same rules apply.”

Watching the small forward play it is easy to see how he sees everything that is happening on the floor. He surveys the floor looking for either a cutting teammate or a seam in the defense that will get him to the basket. Johnson is also capable of hitting the deep jumper whenever necessary, like he can throw the football down field with perfect form.

However, his game is not just on the offensive end, Johnson enjoys playing defense.

“I am definitely a team player,” the 6-foot-4 Clarke Central High product said. “I will share the ball with everyone, play defense and will score the ball when necessary.”

His ability to do all those things has sparked some interest from both football and basketball college programs. Radford is the only school to make him a basketball offer.

Johnson has several elite camps to attend this summer for both sports. He just feels fortunate to be in a situation to play considering his past.

When Johnson was young he contracted a staph infection but that was not the initial diagnosis. He thought it was a high ankle sprain after playing a basketball tournament with Team Athens. Johnson played through the pain, despite people thinking he was faking the injury. He got another evaluation and was told that his pinky toe might be fractured.

Johnson rested but during the time off the court but the pain moved around his body before the staph was identified by the time it reached the hip area. He was bed-ridden and hospitalized hanging on by a thread.  Doctors were able to catch the staph infection and drained the fluids giving Johnson a better outlook about life and sports.

“As an athlete you never know when it will end,” he said. “I just think back that I couldn’t walk. The experience gives me the effort to make me want to work. I have a drive in me that will not allow me to stop.”

Johnson’s drive was a surprise to Smyrna Stars coach Gary Graham. When the Athens native went to workouts in Cobb County, Graham just saw an athlete who had a chance. However, having worked with him some more and coaching him through the spring, Graham was impressed to see the versatility and intangibles Johnson presents on the court. He is also the reason Smyrna won 30 games this spring, inlcuding championships from KnoxVegas, King James and Wallace Prather tournaments.

“The kid is awesome and a competitor,” Graham said. “He goes at people on both ends of the court. When he first game over I had no earthly idea on what he can do.”

Seeing Johnson’s success on the court is not much of a surprise considering the genes. He is the son of former NFL player Mario Johnson and current Clarke Central High girls head basketball coach Carla Johnson. The parents met at Missouri where they played football and basketball respectfully.

His parents are his biggest supports and critics. Coach Johnson has a tendency to dissect Cameron’s game but it’s because she has seen it come along way.

“His biggest strength is his knowledge of the game,” said Johnson, who has coached for 20 years, including 11 as a head coach, all at Clarke Central. “He has worked on being an inside and out player. He has a lot of learning and growth to do.”

Johnson understands that he is always growing as a player.

“I definitely have some swagger about me but I keep level headed because I always have to get better.”